Why You Should Use a Restoration Specialist When There's Water Damage
There's a lot of things that can cause water damage, and many of them are big deals like flood or burst pipes. But how do you know if it's worth a professional cleaning company? Here's what to look for. In the event of water or flood damage, or even just a simple spillage, a reputable professional cleaning agency should be one of the first calls you make. There are many reasons that you'd want to call out professionals when there's water damage. Let's look at some of them right now.
Savannah Water Damage Restoration
Water damage can destroy your home, your belongings, and your health. If you have a leak, mold in your home can grow rapidly. Then you have to deal with its health hazards—especially for children and people with compromised immune systems. A leak can also lead to dry rot, destroying the structure of your house or apartment. When water soaks into wood and other building materials, it causes the fibers to break down. When this happens, you may need a complete rebuild of your home—a very expensive project! Water damage can also cause rust on your belongings. If there's any metal equipment in your home (furnace, motorized appliances like washers and dryers), it could be destroyed by rust caused by water damage! Water damage can result in power outages as well—not only is this an inconvenience at best but an extremely dangerous situation at worst! Especially if there are vulnerable people, such as elderly neighbors or relatives, living nearby who need medical equipment that requires electricity.
How water damage starts
Water damage can start from a variety of sources, some of which you might not expect. Here are just a few examples:
- Leaky pipes
- Flooding
- Poor drainage
- Roof leaks
- Burst water heater
- Water seeping from windows (melting snow, storms)
- Rainwater from storms and heavy rains
- Sewage backup
Water damage warning signs
As a homeowner, there's nothing you want to see less than the telltale signs of water damage in your home. But unfortunately, the not-so-fun reality is that even if you haven't noticed any leaks or flooding in your home, it's still possible that you could have had some water damage over time. Here are a few warning signs to keep an eye out for:
- Bowing or warped walls and ceilings - If you notice that any of your walls or ceilings are starting to bend or warp inward, this could be due to old, hidden water damage and should be inspected ASAP.
- Stains on the ceiling and/or walls - While it might seem obvious that stains on the ceiling indicate water problems above it (and they usually do), did you know that stains on lower-down walls can also signal past flooding? This is because when floods happen higher up in a home and aren't properly cleaned up and dried out, mold will grow behind the walls where it can't be seen as easily. When this happens over time, these spores can discolor parts of wall surfaces lower down.
- Musty odors - If at any point you've noticed a musty smell in your house but can't find the source of it (especially if it fluctuates depending on where in the house you are), this could indicate mildew growth within your home—which is often caused by previous water leaks.
Dangers of water damage
Water damage is no joke. It can be extremely harmful to a person’s health, and it can also lead to a lot of expensive damage to your home. When you have water damage, the most important issue is time. The longer you wait, the more damage it can cause. The best thing to do when dealing with water damage is to get it taken care of right away. The first reason to use a cleaning specialist when there’s water damage is because water creates an ideal environment for mold growth. This will be created on the walls, ceilings, furniture, and flooring in your building if you don’t take care of it quickly and correctly with an expert like us! We at Harper Special Services, specialize in Savannah water damage restoration and cleanup. In addition to water mitigation, we also offer mold remediation in Savannah, a critical service given how fast mold can spread. We have years of experience serving Savannah and the surrounding region, so call us today if you have any questions or need any assistance with water damage cleanup in Savannah or elsewhere.